Thiem to lead Austria against Australia

US Open quarter-finalist Dominic Thiem will lead Austria into battle against Australia in next week's Davis Cup tie in Graz.

Thiem, who lost a marathon five-setter at Flushing Meadows to world No.1 Rafael Nadal on Tuesday night, has been named to spearhead Austria's five-man team for the World Group play-off from September 14-16.

Runner-up to Nadal at this year's French Open as well, world No.7 Thiem will be joined by Dennis Novak, Oliver Marach and brothers Gerald and Jurgen Melzer.

The Stefan Koubek-skippered hosts face an Australian line-up led by US Open quarter-finalist John Millman, teenage star Alex de Minaur, Jordan Thompson, doubles ace John Peers and player-captain Lleyton Hewitt.

With the new Davis Cup finals set to feature 18 teams in a week-long season finale at the end of 2019, the play-off nations will have one on next year's qualifying round in February.

The eight winners of the World Group play-offs will be guaranteed a seeding for the qualifying round that will involve 12 home-and-away ties.

The 12 winners, plus this year's four losing World Group quarter-finalists, will secure an entry to the 2019 finals.